When is a puppy old enough to sleep outdoors?

pjwhite99

I have a alaskan malamute puppy

He is about 9 weeks what age is it right to have him sleep in his kennel?

Any tips on how I can get him use to going outside from inside the house?

223vmax

Assuming he has no source of heating & its on its own when outside, I wouldn't put him outside until the Summer months.

Nody

Why do you want him to sleep outside?

Dicky Pride

Cause he's an animal and generally animals are happier outside.

Mince Pie

Dicky Pride wrote: »

Cause he's an animal and generally animals are happier outside.

they are also social and prefer to be in the company of their family. I would say that they would probably prefer to be in the company of their family than outside.
I can never understand why people want a dog then want to leave it outside. either you want another member of the family or you don't.

andreac

Dicky Pride wrote: »

Cause he's an animal and generally animals are happier outside.

Em, wrong. Sorry, but most dogs prefer to be indoors in the comfort, warmth and dry environment of a home.
I know my 3 rottweilers certainly do and hate being outside.

lollsangel

Mince Pie wrote: »

they are also social and prefer to be in the company of their family. I would say that they would probably prefer to be in the company of their family than outside.
I can never understand why people want a dog then want to leave it outside. either you want another member of the family or you don't.

Well I have 2 dogs! They refuse to stay overnight in the house.when they were pups they stayd inside, left them out in the run one day when I had to go away for a few hours, havent slept inside since! They are very much part of our family. I genuinely dont understand why ppl judge

Nody

Dicky Pride wrote: »

Cause he's an animal and generally animals are happier outside.

And if it was a wild animal I'd agree with you; this is not a wild animal however but rather a domestic pet. Dogs not around humans have a history, accross various breeds and situations, shown to take poorly from being left alone outside inc. developing behaviours which are damaging for the owner and the dog (DBB for example as a trained dog behavourist could give you examples I'm quite certain of as could many others).

That does not mean dogs can't sleep outside (indeed some prefer it) but the question to OP was why they, in their specific situation, wanted it to sleep outside. The reason for the question was to try to determine if it was left outside due to lack of knowledge (to ensure the OP could get a chance to educate themselves if they thought it had to be outside to be a guard dog or avoid things such as "showing who's the alpha leader" BS) or if there were other reasons which the OP had not chosen to disclose at the time to ensure the best possible answer could be given. Why? Because it is a loaded subject and the posts above simply prove that point.

pjwhite99

Nody wrote: »

Why do you want him to sleep outside?

Because a big dog like that is an outside dog, not an in door dog

I would still let him in but he should be out doors most off the time

mr lee

arent malmutes equipped for cold weather,if he has a nice warm bed,with no draughts on him i would say he would be alright,also make sure he has a full belly,
i see no problem with that breed.

andreac

pjwhite99 wrote: »

Because a big dog like that is an outside dog, not an in door dog

I would still let him in but he should be out doors most off the time

I have 3 big dogs who live indoors. Size doesnt determine whether they should be inside or out. Why should it be an outside dog?

The_Mask

They say Acquiring a dog is your only chance to choose a relative. Would you put your mother in law out the back garden?!

pjwhite99

Just think he is to big to be in the house all the time.

I though there good with the cold there a snow dog

borderlinemeath

Dicky Pride wrote: »

Cause he's an animal and generally animals are happier outside.

Really? Are you so tuned in to animal behaviour that you know what the dog wants?:rolleyes:

Dogs are one of the most social animals there is. Humans domesticated them thousands of years ago to be companion animals and be part of the family, yet somewhere along the way, humans started building houses, yet got this notion that the dog preferred to be outside. It seems to be quite an Irish thing too.

OP, a dog needs it's family, it needs social interaction, not just when he's a puppy but throughout his life. I have no problem with some dogs sleeping outside if for the other 16 hours of the day the dog is stimulated with work, perhaps in a farming capacity, or is a companion to a family member but a lot of people get dogs and never let them into the house. They sit forlornly outside looking in at their family who might spend a small bit of time with them in the garden, completely alone, understimulated, bored and may over time, become destructive.

Certain breeds as well just cannot fare well in an outdoor capacity, lots of toy breeds have too fine a coat, greyhounds and whippets also suffer with fine coats and also have little or no body fat to keep them warm, plenty of other fine coated breeds suffer too. You've got a malamute, so this isn't an issue but you have a breed that needs a LOT of stimulation, back garden living is not for your dog.

Nody

The_Mask wrote: »

They say Acquiring a dog is your only chance to choose a relative. Would you put your mother in law out the back garden?!

Yes; but don't tell her that :pac: (the dog would sleep indoors though).

borderlinemeath

pjwhite99 wrote: »

Because a big dog like that is an outside dog, not an in door dog

I would still let him in but he should be out doors most off the time

He can be outdoors most of the time - if you're prepared to be outdoors with him.

OP, from this and the other thread you had, I think you are ill prepared for the dog you got.

Richard tea

OP, the Dog will naturally use/sleep in the kennel of his own free will. Dont be worried if its raining and the dog is soaked as he will use the kennel when he wants it. Its still quite young so perhaps watch the temps for the rest of this month. If it stops dipping below zero degrees by the end of the month then you may start to introduce him to his natural environment of the OUTDOORS

Pretzill

The_Mask wrote: »

They say Acquiring a dog is your only chance to choose a relative. Would you put your mother in law out the back garden?!

Don't ask a question like that might get a bunch of affirmative answers

On keeping a dog outside I wouldn't - I feel it can be a lonely existence - but if I had to I'd wait until pup has grown up a bit - been fully house trained and start in the warmer weather.

Nody

pjwhite99 wrote: »

Just think he is to big to be in the house all the time.

I though there good with the cold there a snow dog

You do realize you have a very high energy, high prey drive and highly intelligent dog that needs hours of training and exercise (phyiscal as well as mental) every day to keep it from going literally mental? If you leave it in your back garden it will not train or exercise itself but rather be very bored and start coming up with ways to try to get your attention from digging, to chasing, to barking, to escaping to get your attention.

Leaving a dog outside is bad on it's own but leaving that breed outside is asking for trouble to come back haunting you... Did you research the breed at all before getting the puppy?

borderlinemeath

Richard tea wrote: »

OP, the Dog will naturally use/sleep in the kennel of his own free will. Dont be worried if its raining and the dog is soaked as he will use the kennel when he wants it. Its still quite young so perhaps watch the temps for the rest of this month. If it stops dipping below zero degrees by the end of the month then you may start to introduce him to his natural environment of the OUTDOORS

Dogs only prefer the natural environment of the outdoors, if their family is with them. They do not prefer to be turfed out into a lonely existence in a back garden with no stimulation.

Dicky Pride

Without doubt, the most arrogant forum on boards. Everyone else is wrong and you're all right. Pathetic really.

However did dogs cope outside before people started taking them into their beds.

ZiabR

pjwhite99 wrote: »

Because a big dog like that is an outside dog, not an in door dog

I would still let him in but he should be out doors most off the time

Why did you get the dog then? We are big "animals", does that mean we should sleep outside? Anyway, before I lose the head back to your original post, 9 weeks is too young, wait until summer.

Mince Pie

Dicky Pride wrote: »

Without doubt, the most arrogant forum on boards. Everyone else is wrong and you're all right. Pathetic really.

However did dogs cope outside before people started taking them into their beds.

Dogs have evolved alongside humans for around 10,000 years now and therefore like our company.

Is it really arrogant on our part if the majority disagrees with you or perhaps arrogance on your part that you argue with people who have done some research on how best to treat their family members? And yes, our dogs are family members.

VonVix

Dicky Pride wrote: »

Without doubt, the most arrogant forum on boards. Everyone else is wrong and you're all right. Pathetic really.

However did dogs cope outside before people started taking them into their beds.

What's pathetic about looking out for the welfare of an animal that cannot speak up for itself?

I think back in the day, hundreds of years ago, when dogs did sleep outside they were certainly not isolated. Especially not isolated in a back garden surrounded by four walls, they were able to roam then.

boomerang

They had company and the freedom to roam.

A completely different scenario to keeping a young puppy outdoors on its own in a garden.

ZiabR

pjwhite99 wrote: »

Just think he is to big to be in the house all the time.

I though there good with the cold there a snow dog

Again, why? You are bigger than him, does that mean your too big for the house all the time?

anniehoo

Dicky Pride wrote: »

Without doubt, the most arrogant forum on boards. Everyone else is wrong and you're all right. Pathetic really.

However did dogs cope outside before people started taking them into their beds.

If you have a problem with a post, use the report button. Do not post in this thread again.

For everyone else, let's keep the tone civil please.

Hooked

pjwhite99 wrote: »

Just think he is to big to be in the house all the time.

I though there good with the cold there a snow dog

They'll have no problem with the cold.

BUT... They, like most dogs, will benefit from being inside. They won't be barking, howling or looking to stray after cats or other animals. They won't smell from the wet and elements. Everyone gets a better nights sleep.

We have a husky. And another on the way. My house is modest in size. But, I couldn't risk having the dogs outside. Too much distraction and the weather being deciding factors. That, and any would be thieves.

Each to their own, I guess...

MayoSalmon

Personally I have no real problem with a dog sleeping/living outside. I do have a problem with a dog being left on its own for a prolonged amount of time inside or out.

That being said putting a puppy outside in this weather and at 9 weeks of age is not right.

cocker5

Personally I dont see the point of having a dog unless it is part of the family and IMO that emans sleeping inside - but thats just me.

I do realise however certain breeds of dog may prefer to slepp outdoors by choice , or so im told...

what i cannot understand and will not ever accept as ok to have a dog who sleeps outside and spends most of his time outside in a garden as a lovely "garden decoration" :mad:. that looks great for a family looking out the back.... how nice for the dog!

OP not directed at you just making a point.

9 weeks IMO is faaaar too young to even but thinking about putting him outside... God sure even the howling wind will scare the crap out of him ... let alone all the rain, coldness and general lonleiness for the poor fella.

sillysmiles

OP are you home during the day with the pup? If not you have also want to think about when the pup is going to be trained and socialised. As a young pup, now is the perfect time to use having him in the house to train him to be the dog you want.
Eventually as he get older and knows that you are his family and you will come back for him in the morning, being outside at night shouldn't be a problem but at this age I would imagine you run the risk of a) missing vital training time and b) increasing the chances of instilling separation anxiety.

What I mean by missing out on training is that at this age the should only have training for a few minutes at a time but if he is inside with you, then you will get lots more of those few minutes during the evening. There are lots of other people who have lots more experience in training a pup so I'm very open to being corrected about this.

I suppose you need to have a think about what do you want your dog to be as a grown up dog, and think of how to best to start training him now to achieve that. Good luck.